FEMALE RULERS OF

THE ANCIENT WORLD

PRESENTATIONS BY WIKTORIA
RYNKIEWICZ
The female rulers mentioned above were all
fearless, ferocious, powerful, influential, smart
and intelligent. They all made significant
contributions during their reigns, such as
religious, social, and political reforms. Many of
them had long and prosperous periods of rule.
They promoted education, technology, and
innovative systems of government. These
female rulers showed great courage in taking
the lead, as they were all battling against firmly
established traditions of patriarchy.
Cleopatra
Cleopatra was born in 70 or 69 BC and was the oldest
daughter of Pharaoh Ptolemy XII (Auletes) of Egypt.
Her mother is believed to be Cleopatra V Tryphaena,
Ptolemy XII’s wife and probably his stepsister. As a
member of the Ptolemaic line, she was related to its
founder, Ptolemy I Soter, a Macedonian Greek
general and friend of Alexander the Great. Cleopatra
had a memorable life in which she married both her
siblings and then battled against them for royal
supremacy. She had a liaison with the Roman ruler
Julius Caesar, and after his death, with his companion,
the Roman general Mark Antony. She eventually
committed suicide. Cleopatra is a magnificent,
acclaimed figure in history and there are many
different legends connected to her. She was the last
dynamic leader of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt
and also a maritime pioneer, linguist and healer.
Sobekneferu
Sobekneferu was a ruler of the Middle
Kingdom in Egypt. She was the first female
pharaoh of Egypt and was a descendant of
Amenemhat III. Many busts, statues, and
effigies of Sobekneferu were made, and it is
speculated that she was succeeded either by
Sekhemre Khutawy Sobekhotep or by
Khutawyre Wegaf. She affixed masculine titles
to her name to appease those who disagreed
with female pharaohs.
Neferneferuaten
Nefertiti
Nefertiti was born in Thebes in 1370 BC. She was
attractive and influential, and was the wife of the
mighty Pharaoh Akhenaten who was known for his
worship of the sun. It was Nefertiti who influenced
her husband’s ideologies and transformed his
religious beliefs. A sculpture of Nefertiti can be found
in the Egyptian Museum of Berlin.
Theodora
Theodora was a queen of the Roman Empire. Her speech
during the Nika riots demonstrated her great skill as a leader
as she was able to resolve the political disagreements
between the Blues and the Greens, the rioters who were
destroying public property at that time. She convinced the
two sides to reconcile, and after her powerful speech, the
violence stopped. Following the Nika riots, Theodora
ordered the city of Constantinople to be rebuilt. Theodora
championed women’s rights and brought about changes to
enhance the recognition of women in society. She had
contradictory religious beliefs to her husband, Justinian.
Justinian promoted Chalcedonian Christianity whereas
Theodora endorsed the Miaphysite monastery. Theodora died
of an ulcer or a tumor in Constantinople in 548. Justinian
was very loyal to her even after she died, and he worked hard
to integrate the Monophysites and the Chalcedonian subjects
of his kingdom.
Hatshepsut
Hatshepsut was an Egyptian pharaoh and the daughter
of Thutmose I. She co-ruled with her adopted son
Thutmose III. She held the throne for around two
decades, which is the longest reign by a female
Egyptian ruler. Egypt had witnessed a major upheaval
during the Second Intermediate Period, and
Hatshepsut rebuilt major trade routes which had been
devastated during this period. Egypt began trading
again and exchanged ivory, gold, and resins, amongst
other materials, with their trading partner, the Land of
Punt. She initiated the construction of various projects
all across ancient Egypt and improved the country’s
infrastructure. Many artefacts, monuments, holy
shrines, and monoliths were erected during her reign.
She was a beautiful woman and an ambitious,
talented, and intelligent ruler. She died at the age of
50 in 1458 BC.
 Merneith
Merneith was an Egyptian empress. Her tomb is situated
in Abydos, the old city of Egypt. She is buried next to her
predecessor Zet (also known as Wadg, Uadji, or Djet).
Merneith’s name is the only female name on the list of
first dynasty kings and was engraved on the objects
found in her father, Pharaoh Djer’s, tomb. Egypt
underwent major political, social, and religious
transformations during her reign. Human sacrifice was
prevalent at that time and servants often sacrificed their
lives in order to serve their rulers in the afterlife. Around
120 servants performed this human sacrifice to deliver
services for the queen after her death.
Empress Wu Zetian

Empress Wu Zetian was a powerful and influential

personality, and is considered the first genuine queen
of China. She was conferred with several honorary
titles such as Lady, Empress Consort, Empress
Dowager and Empress Regnant amongst others. She
was born in Wenshui in the year 624 and was a
pioneer for many religious and educational reforms in
China. She introduced the examination system for the
allocation of government titles, gave sermons on
Buddhism, and advocated the spread of Buddhist
ideology amongst the people.
Olga of Kiev

Born in Pskov, Russia, Olga of Kiev was the most fierce

and courageous female Russian ruler. She was the
epitome of power in the nation and was revered right
across the country. She married Igor of Kiev in around
902 or 903, and after he was assassinated in Iskorosten,
Ukraine, she took the throne as she was the guardian of
their son who was a minor at the time. She was one of
the first female leaders of Russia to adopt and endorse
Christianity. She inaugurated and erected many churches
and religious monuments and was also an evangelist who
preached to the people and tried to convince them to take
up Christianity as their faith. She sought vengeance from
the Drevlians community who assassinated her husband
and guarded her throne fiercely.
Eleanor of Aquitaine

Eleanor was the oldest daughter of William X, Duke

of Aquitaine. She married the French emperor Louis
VII in 1137 and Henry II of England in 1152. She was
a dominant figure and held the throne for around
seven decades. She did not shy away from entering
into military campaigns, which was unusual for
female rulers at the time. She gave a platform to
artists, poets, and musicians who all flourished during
her reign. She was beautiful, sincere, and a great
leader; she was an inspiration for the women of her
era.
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